A second audience member also challenged Corbyn to take responsibility for Remain losing the referendum by 2%, saying David Cameron had “had the decency” to stand down after the result, but that Corbyn had not.

Corbyn replied that two-thirds of Labour supporters voted to remain, but only a third of Conservative voters had, and that his constituency voted 70% Remain, whereas Owen Smith’s had been split 50/50 over the result.

“I did my best in that campaign”, he said, which caused a chorus of “no you didn’t!” from the audience.

A third audience member criticised Corbyn for not making the Remain case “passionately” enough.

Elsewhere in the debate, Smith repeated his support for a second referendum or a general election on the terms of leaving the European Union.

Following the results of the EU referendum Corbyn came under attack from within Labour ranks for what was seen as a lacklustre campaign, in which he dodged opportunities to appear on cross-party platforms for Britain Stronger In Europe (BSIE).

Will Straw, the head of the official Remain campaign, said he felt “let down” by the Labour leader, and said that it took six months for him even to secure a meeting with Corbyn’s office.